Austin County Obits

Fred VanDorn “Van” Wedegartner, Jr., 41, of Wallis, passed from this life to
Heaven on Sept. 11, 2010 at home surrounded by family and friends after a courageous 11 year battle against cancer.

His incredible spirit for life, determination, strength and optimism inspired so
many and taught us all so much.

Van, a lifelong resident of the Wallis and Houston areas, graduated from the
University of Houston ’s pharmacy program and worked as the pharmacy manager for Wal-Mart in El Campo and Sealy for many years.

Van was preceded in death by his father, Fred VanDorn Wedegartner, and
grandparents, Jean Robinson Loesch Voss, William Thomas “Bill” Loesch, Fred and Alice Wedegartner, and step-grandfather Lester Voss.

Van is survived by his wife Leighann (Hedt) Wedegartner, daughter Taylor
Wedegartner, mother Paula Wedegartner of Rosenberg, sister and brother-in-law Wendy and Rob Yates of Rosenberg, brother and fiancé Wade Wedegartner and Lindsey
Farris, of Rosenberg, nephew Joshua Wedegartner, in-laws W Lee and Sharon Hedt of Needville, sister-in-law and husband Shelley and Brooks Baker of Needville,
nephews Connor, Tannor and Trevor Baker, brother-in-law and wife Shane and Kasi Hedt, of Needville and nephew Carter Hedt, and step-grandmother Suzie Loesch of
Missouri City. He also leaves behind many extended family members and many, many close and lifelong friends and fishing, hunting, and golfing buddies.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to MD Anderson’s Brain
Cancer Research Fund, attn: Dr. Alfred Yung, to continue the fight for a cure.